Keynote Speaker

Gilles Comeau

Gilles Comeau received his Ph.D. in the Foundations of Music Education in 1995 from the University of Montreal. There he continued his Post-Doctoral studies in piano pedagogy from 1995-1997 with Marc Durand and Gilles Manny. Currently a Professor in the School of Music of the University of Ottawa, he co-ordinates both the piano pedagogy and the music education sectors. He has set up many multidisciplinary research groups, all studying various aspects of piano learning and piano teaching, and has authored many books including Piano Pedagogy: A Research and Information Guide Comparing Dalcroze, Orff and Kodàly and the five books in the Illustrated History of Music for Young Musicians series. He is also the author of over 20 educational kits to be used by music and art teachers, and has written various research papers in music education and piano pedagogy.

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Clinicians and Sessions

Crystal Boyack

Crystal Boyack is a leader in early childhood violin pedagogy and is a highly sought-after teacher, clinician, and lecturer. She is the best-selling author of Wee Violin: World Music Preparatory to Twinkle, the only early childhood violin curriculum, which contains traditional music from around the world.

Crystal will be providing demo classes and an introduction to the Wee Musicians approach.

Kathleen and Thomas Schoen

Flutist Kathleen Schoen and violinist Thomas Schoen are classically trained performers and teachers who value innovation and creativity as much as history and tradition. Join them for an in depth discussion about the SAA’s Certificate of Achievement.

For the first time at an SAO conference, Kathleen will be teaching beginner recorder classes!